Convertible hackamore bosal bit



May 23, i944.

F. A. RAY CONVERTIBLE HACKAMORE BOSAL BIT Filed March '27, 1941 Patented May 23, 1944 fsrmfres PATENT olf-Fics f 4 Claims.

-My invention relates toabit of the combination f hackamore "bosal type `yand thel construction herein illustrated and described is an improvement on the hacka-more bitfforming'thesub-ject matter of 4U. S. -Letters Patent -No. 2,225,232 issued to me December 17,1940.

"The i principal "objects-'of' my present invention VAare,A to; generallyv` improve -upon and simplify the censtruction'of1 the bitV disclosedin my aforesaid patent,` as' welles-otherexisting forms ofj similar bits, to providea' simple yandl ecientcombination hackamore 'bitf that may-be used-with `or 'without a -mouthpieceg asdesired, to provide `improved f meanswhereby-mouthpieces "maybe interchange- 'rably usedlwith the'bit; further, to providealever- :age hac'kamorewithout a bitfand further, `to provide -f a `lnose Sjaw bit. with fan interchangeable mouthpiece.

Further. objects off .myinventionyara ,to .'.provide. a hackamorebit wit-hiian mprovedsprocket `curbsandmeans.|` for connecting the ends fof fsaid Fig. '4 isa .vertical cross section ftaken .on the line "Ii- 4 'of`Fg."2.

Fig. 5 is an enlargeddetail section taken` on the line 5-5 ofFigfS.

Fig. Gis. aside .elevational view-,of a modified form of thabit.

Fig. 7 .is an enlarged-elevational Lview .of .the 'endof the-bosa1that.is .used in connection with ."the formof bit illustrated in Fig. 6.

.i Fig." 8 `is. an elevational `viewf alatchmlate .utilized insecuring' the. .en'ds .fl the bosalwto .the

cheek pieces of `the.form..of Vbitllustratedf.in

Fig. 6.

"Fig, 9 is aplan-view fithelparts-seenllooking in the Vdirection. indicated byithe arrow 'BrinEigL 7.

Fig. 10"is anenlarged ,detail: section taken on 'the line IIl-`I'B'of,Fig. 6.

"Fig, '11' is an"enlarged'crosssectioniy taken on'the Aline I I-I IA f' Figf.

Fig. V12 is'an'elevati'onal-view of the'upperportion of one of the cheek pieces forming a vpart of the-modified construction illustrated inFigf.

YReferring by numerals to the laccompanying 5 drawing and particularly-to the'form of` bit illus- 4*trated inFigsfl to5 inclusive, IIJ designates the `main body of one of the two cheek pieces'of the hackamore, said body being inthe form of a ring, and depending therefrom is an arm I I that termi- 10 natesin 'a smaller ring I2 that'provides ai point of connectionfor the bridle `rein I3.

Suitabiy secured by rivets or otherwise to the --outer face of each ring-shaped-body` member IS) yisa concha orpiate I4 having a convex" central 15 portion I5 that provides' a ccver for" the Aopening inthe ringeshape'd'member I. Formedintegr'al withthe upper portion ofeach ring-'shaped 'meinu *beriliiandat aL'point opposite thelarm II-'is a ring I t "that provides a point of attachment fior the end of an adjustable and removable bcsal I 1,

" also point of attachment for'-"the lower end 'f the cheek strap4 Iof the bridle.

'Formed'integralA with the rear =1ower^ portion "of ringI'G an'd"direct1y above-the center ofthe ring-shaped member I0 is a horizontaily'disposed 'lugil lthat'` provides a point of attachment'for the curb of the? bit, land formed/between this lug I9 and the`- upper portion'of member''IU is arercess into Whi'ch'proje'cts one end of a block 2i that is carried by the end ofthe curb.

The' construction just described yand particuiarly the recess 2li provides a pocket adaptedto snuglyreceive a block that is carried by thelend lof the curb-andwhich block when fitted into-said recessbeiowf the 4lug determines the'po'sition ofthe curb With-respect to the cheek* pieces andlprevents'the intermediate portion vofv said curb from swinging 'vertically lin either "direction except when actuated by' swinging 'movement of the chekpecea'with the mouth pieceasian axis.

l Block-2Iis"detachab1y* connected to the lug'IB bymeans 'of avconventional sprocket chain repair i' link comprising a p1ate22, pins`23- rigidly secured to` said'. p'1ate"'22;'whch pins pass ytinrough aperaperture to the end of the link as designated by 25a in Fig. 5, thus permitting the legs of the repair link to be flexed and sprung when applied to or removed from the ends of the link connecting rivets 23.

Connected to the two blocks 2| are the end links of a short section of chain 26 of the sprocket type which forms the curb of the bit. 'I'his chain is composed of flat links connected by pivot pins and is .flexible .in one direction and inflexible in the other direction.

The blocks 2| carried by the ends of the curb chain 26 fit snugly into the recesses 20 below the lugs I9 and such arrangement maintains the curb which is flexible only in one direction, in a denite angular position with respect to the cheek pieces of the bit and particularly the pins that provide points of attachment for the interchangeable mouth pieces.

Enclosing the central portion of this curb chain is a flexible leather piping 21, and formed in the central portion thereof is an opening 28 which permits two or more links at the intermediate portion of the curb to be drawn outwardly from the piping 21, thereby shortening the curb. To

maintain the links in their withdrawn position,

a cotter pin 29 is passed through the withdrawn links and said pin secured in its inserted position by a thong 30 of leather or the like that is wrapped lengthwise upon the pin and around the -site the ends to which the ends of the curb are connected, projects into the notches 2|), thus holding the curb in a predetermined position beneath the animals jaw and said curb is flexible transversely of the jaw but inflexible when swung up- -ward against the jaw.

The means utilized for detachably securing the ends of the bit to the cheek pieces and thereby enabling diiTerent bits to be interchangeably used with said cheek pieces, includes vertically disposed pins 3| pivoted at their lower ends to loops 32 that are secured to the lower inner faces of the convex portions of the conchas I4. The upper ends 33 of these pins are reduced in thickness and when in closed position these reduced upper ends occupy notches 34 that are formed in the members of the cheek pieces just above the openings therein.

Mounted for vertical sliding movement in a groove Illb that is formed in the inner face of the upper portion of each cheek piece member I! and the adjacent inner face of lug |9 is a narrow plate 35 and formed integral with the upper end thereof is a hook 36 which, when said plate is at its lower limit of movement, overlies the upper face of lug I9. This plate overlies groove ||la and the plate 31 therein. A short lip 36a extends from the side of the top of hook 36 and overlies the top of lug I9, thus providing an extension of said hook which may be engaged by the pointed end of a knife blade, a nail or the like, when plate 35 is elevated to release the mouthpiece 39 of thebit. '.When plate 35 is at its lower limit of movement, its lower end portion overlies the narrow upper end portion. 33 of the pin 32, thereby securing the same in upright position as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The latching plate 35 is retained for sliding movement upon the cheek piece by a plate 31 of thin metal that is secured to the inner face of the upper portion of the cheek piece member l0 and the adjacent lug |9. The lower portion of this plate 31 is provided with a notch 3B that permits the upper end of pin 3| to swing into and out of its closed position when the retaining plate 35 is elevated. Notches 34 and 38 coincide with each other, with the lower portion of plate 35 same as seen in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown the end portion 39 of a bit positioned upon the pin 3| and in Fig. 4 dotted lines a show the bit-,carrying pin swung away from the cheek piece so as to enable the end of the bit to be applied thereto or removed therefrom.

In the form of bit just described, the cheek pieces when actuated by a pull on the bridle reins will be partially rotated on the axis formed by the mouthpiece 39, and as such action takes place the entire curb being iniiexible at right angles to its length, will swing upwardly against the under side of the animals jaw. The length of the curb may be readily adjusted by manipulating the intermediate portion of the chain 26 through the opening 28 in the ilexible piping 21 and the ends of said curb may be readily detached from the cheek pieces by removal of the sprocket repair links that connect the ends of the curb to the lugs 9. The pivoted or swinging pins 3| provide simple and convenient means for interchangeably using various mouthpieces with the cheek pieces of the bit and said pins are retained in closed positions by the sliding members 35.

The modied construction illustrated in Figs. 6 to l2 inclusive combines a bosal and a conventional curb and the bosal which is adjustable in length is detachably connected to the upper portions of the cheek pieces. This form of bosal may be used with either an interchangeable or non-interchangeable bit.

- In this construction, the upper portions of the cheek pieces |0a terminate in rings 40 and projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the lower portions of said rings` are lugs 4| that form points of attachment for the ends of a conventional curb 42.

The bosal comprises a strap 43, the ends of which are adjustably connected to separately formed elongated pieces of leather 44, the lower end portions 45 of which are substantially circular in form. Secured by rivets or otherwise on the outer face of each member 44 isl a metal plate 46, the lower end portionv 41 `of which extends downward onto the lower portion of the circular lower end 45 of member 44, and formed on this lower portion of said plate is an outwardly projecting circular flange 48. Projecting` outwardly from the lower portion 41 of plate 46 4and centrally arranged within the ring48 is astud 49.

A narrow horizontally disposed strip 50 of the material in plate 46 above the llower portion 41.is pressed outwardly so that it occupies a vertical plane a slight distance offset from the plane occupied by the portion 41 and formed through the lower portion of this offset strip 50 just above the ange 48 is a hori z ontally disposedslot 5|.A 4A portion of themetal inplate 46 at the outer end of strip 50 is bent outwardly and thencel rearwardly toform a hook 52 that is substantially U-shape in horizontal section. Y

Whenthe bosal constructed as described is applied to the cheek pieces of the bit, the end portions 45 of the members 44, are disposed inwardly from the rings 40 and the rings 48 on the members 41 project through said rings 4U as illustrated in Fig. l1. Thus the ends of the bosal are rotatably connected to the upper ends of the cheek pieces.

To detachably connect the ends of the bosal with the rings 45 on the upper ends of the cheek pieces, latch plates 53 are provided with substantially inverted L-shaped slots such as 54, the lower ends oi' the vertical legs of which slots are slightly offset to form stud receiving bearings 55, and at the point where the vertical legs of said slots join the horizontal legs, the slots are slightly enlarged as designated by 56 for the accommodation of the heads of the studs 49.

After the circular flange 48 has been inserted thro-ugh ring lill, plate 53 is positioned and manipulated so as to cause stud 49 to pass through the enlarged portion 56 of slot 54, after which said plate 53 is elevated until the shank of the stud 49 enters the bearing 55 at the lower end of the slot, thus inaintainingthe parts 45 and 41 in assembled relation and -with plate 53 overlying the flange 4B.

Plate 53 is now slightly rotated so as to position the upper right hand corner thereof beneath the hook 52 and when so positioned the horizontally disposed upper portion of the slot 54 registers with the slot 5l in the plate 46 and said coinciding slots receive the lower portions of the cheek strap Ia of the bridle, and as a result the plate 53 is maintained in proper position on the lower portion of plate 46.

Integrally secured to the outer faces of the rear portions of the plates 53 to the rear of and below the slots 54 therein are loops 51 that provide points of attachment for a conventional tie down.

In the event that it is desired to use the hackamore structure including the bosal, the cheek straps 18a and head stall to which the cheek straps are connected, the cheek pieces Illa are removed from the plates 41 and a flexible member such as a strap, rope or chain, connects the loops 5l to function as a curb. In the event that it is desired to provide a hackamore without a bosal, the strap 43 which is detachably connected to the members 44 and which passes over the animals nose, is removed.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive convertible hackamore bit combination that may be used either as a leverage hackamore or with a snale bit or as a halter without a bit and which combination is particularly suitable for the breaking of colts.

Further, the hackamore bit combination may be readily converted into a loose jaw bit Without the bosal and the interchangeable mouthpiece feature enables the use of any desired width or shape of mouthpiece without the necessity and expense of providing anything more than the extra mouthpieces which are capable of being interchangeably used with the bit.

Further, my improved hackamore bit combination provides for the functions of a conventional bosal under the chin with the leverage advantage of the cheek pieces of the bit in addition to the conventional loose chain curb, both of which are encased in leather piping for the humane Drotection to the horse.

In addition, the hackamore bit combination illustrated in Fig. 6 provides a number of variations which are highly eiective in the humane control of horses while being ridden, and the construction also includes provision for the use of a tie down for high head horses and applicable to either English or Western equipment.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved convertible hackarnore bosal bit, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a hackamore bit, a pair of cheek pieces, means carried by said cheek pieces for detachably securing a bit, an eye on the upper portion of each cheek piece, a bosal detachably connected to the eyes of the two cheek pieces, lugs projecting rearwardly from the lower rear portions of said eyes, there being recesses formed in the cheek pieces below said lugs, blocks fitting snugly within said recesses, releasable connections between said blocks and lugs and a curb connected to said blocks. I

2. A hackamore bit as set forth in claim 1 and which curb is flexible in one direction longitudinally and inflexible in the other direction.

3. A hackamore bit as set forth in claim 1, which curb is exible in one direction longitudinally and inexible in the other direction and means for varying the length of said curb.

4. In a hackamore bit, a pair of cheek pieces, means carried by said cheek pieces for detachably securing a bit, means on said cheek pieces providing points of attachment for a bosal and cheek straps, lugs projecting rearwardly from the upper portions of said cheek pieces, there being recesses formed in said cheek pieces below said lugs, a exible curb, the ends of which are seated in said recesses and detachable connections between said lugs and the ends of said curb.

IREDRICK A. RAY. 

